Jl24 thirty-fourth t^RUIT-GROWERS' COXVENTIOX. 



examinations of dried fruit should be made. The Act of June 30. 1906. 

 in reference to food, says : 



That when in the preparation of food products for shipment they are preserved 

 by any external application applied in such manner that the preservative is neces- 

 sarily removed mechanically, or by maceration in water, or otherwise, and direc- 

 tions for the removal of said preservative shall be printed on the covering, or packairp. 

 the provisions of this Act shall be construed as applying onlv when said products 

 are ready for consumption. 



It has been fully and satisfactorily demonstrated that by washing, 

 soaking and cooking, the sulphur dioxid contained in dried fruit almost 

 entirely disappears, at least the percentage is very greatly decreased. 

 If ruling 76 had prescribed how tests of fruit should be made, as 

 producers and packers claim was clearly intended, according to the 

 language of the Act, viz., by examination of the cooked product, "when 

 ready for consumption," no controversy would have arisen and no 

 doubt would have been entertained of the intent of the Bureau of 

 Chemistry or of the justice of the Act. 



Another feature of Decision 76, open to fair criticism, is, that it 

 fixed an arbitrary unit of sulphur dioxid as permissible, viz., 350 

 milligrams per kilogram, or 35-1000 of one per cent, prior to a determi- 

 nation of the unit of safety, or without attempting, so far as any pul)lic 

 utterance of the Bureau of Chemistry is concerned, to establish such 

 safety unit. If the unit fixed is made to apply after an examination 

 of the cooked product, it is entirely reasonable and satisfactory. If it 

 is applicable only to the uncooked product, it is manifestly too low. 

 The unit of .035 of one per cent appears to reflect a theory rather than 

 a determination on examination and inquiry based on a comprehensive 

 view of conditions incident to actual use of the product as food. 



I am satisfied that reference to the Referee Board of the issues in- 

 volved in the sulphur question, and the action of that board, have the 

 approval of Secretary Wilson, who has exhibited a disposition to pro- 

 tect the fruit industry of this State. Dr. Wiley maintains a defiant 

 attitude. His endeavor seems now to be to demonstrate that sulphur 

 is an unwholesome ingredient and should not be used, because its use 

 produces sulphur dioxid, "an added substance which may render the 

 fruit deleterious." Tie openly says, it is the fight of his life to main- 

 tain the position he has. taken in the use of sulphur. 



Aside from all scientific consideration, it may not be out of place to 

 consider the sentimental ciuestion involved. It is no exaggeration to 

 claim that there is in the disturbance over the use of sulphur a serious 

 menace to the present prosperity and future development of California, 

 which only those who know our industrial processes intimately and 

 accurately can appreciate. 



It is. therefore, important that the Cjuestion now agitating fruit grow- 

 ers should be wisely, speedily, and permanently settled. For the crop 

 year 1908 the matter seems to be fixed with reasonable assurance of 

 safety on the part of all concerned, but the interpretation of the 

 National Pure Food Law in its application to California dried fruit 

 products is of vital and very general interest. 



PRESIDENT JEFFREY. I beg to say that Mr. B. E. Hutchinson 

 is to begin the discussion on the subject, and I take great pleasure in 

 introducing ]\Ir. Hutchinson of Fresno County. 



